Flood-fence



Patented July l9, I898.

8. F. MILLER.

' FLOOD FENCE. (Application filed Dec. 10, 1897.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOH W/ T/VE SSE S ATTORNEY.

m: NORRIS PETERS 01 wcraumvn wAshmaTom n c I ATENT FFICE SAMUEL F. MILLER, OF BRIDGEIVATER, VIRGINIA.

FLOOD-FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,568, dated July 19, 1898. Application filed December 10, 1897. Serial No. 661,351. (NomodeL) in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to fences for use on lands subject to overflow, and is designed to fall horizontally with the first rush of the waters, no part of it then appearing more than a few inches above the ground. It does not catch rubbish and drift-wood and 'is easily erected again when the waters have subsided. The fence is also removable, as each panel is portable and complete in itself.

The various features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view with the fence in vertical position. a panel in vertical position. Fig. 3 is an end of a panel in the act of falling from the force of the water, and Fig. 4 is a like view with the fence prostrate.

Similar letters denote corresponding parts in the various views.

The letters A A indicate the end posts, and B B the bars, of apanel or section of my fence. Each panel is distinct and separate from the others and should be firmly put together. In its construction I prefer to make a long panel with a center post A and two braces to a; but any preferred framing may be used.- The boards at the bottom should be put closely together to receive at once the full force of the water, and so to fall before rubbish and drift wood are collected against them. The drift will then pass over the fence and float away into natural channels. At a proper distance from the fence short anchorposts 0 O are fixed in the ground, to which Fig. 2 is an edge view of and to the end posts A A are pivotally attached braces D D, their connection with the fence-posts being at a point above the middle and preferably about two-thirds of the height of the post from the ground.

- When set up, the Weight of the fence and the braces D D will secure it against derangement by large cattle and ordinary wind, and to prevent small stock from disturbing it look bars or rods E E are pivotally attached to the lower ends of the fence-posts and provided with hooks e e to engage pins f f on the anchor-posts. These would resist pressure from the anchor-post side and would permit the fence to fall from pressure on the opposite or flood side.

In a violent wind, sufficient to demolish rigid fences, this fence would fall and escape injury in the same manner as when thrown by the Water. It is also evident that the fence can be readily shifted from one side to the other of the line of anchor-posts, and so afford minor advantages not necessary to particularize herein.

What I claim, anddesire to secure, is

1. A flood-fence formed in sections whose end posts above the middle, are pivotally connected by arms to anchor-posts, as herein described.

2. A flood -fencev formed in sections, to whose end posts above their middle, are pivoted the ends of bracing-arms, whose other ends are pivotally connected to anchor-posts, and lock-rods, detachably connecting the lower ends of said end posts to said anchorposts substantially as described.

3. A flood-fence having panels formed of two end posts A, A, a center post A, bars B, B, and frame-braces a, a, supporting-braces D, D, pivoted at one end to said panels above their middle, and at theIother end to anchorposts 0, O, and lock-bars E, E, for the purpose herein described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. 1

SAMUEL F. MILLER. Witnesses:

J AS. R. SHIPMAN, CHAS. W. BOWMAN. 

